Refugee Week

World Refugee Day was commemorated on 20 June. In the UK, Refugee Week is a nationwide programme of arts, cultural and educational events that celebrate the contribution of refugees to the UK and encourages a better understanding between communities.

At Archbishop Holgate’s we had a varied programme that raised the profile of refugees, making our school community more empathetic and aware of their plight and also actively acknowledge the successful achievements of famous refugees, such as Albert Einstein and Rita Ora. Our Thought for the Day, Collective Worship, Chapel, News and Word of the Week were all linked to the theme. On Wednesday, students from Constantine College, University of York, who volunteer for Refugee Action York (RAY), delivered a brilliant presentation to a group of our students in the Library.

We heard some fascinating facts and participated in thought provoking activities. The university students were totally amazed by the group’s accurate map skills and impressive knowledge of the Middle East! By the end of the workshop we were all encouraged to: treat everyone with respect, understand peers better with our new found knowledge of variations in culture from the Middle East, never confuse opinion wıth fact, challenge misconceptions about refugees and to become more involved in supporting this wonderful local charity.